Sewer improvements in Mound and Minnetrista begin this spring

Major infrastructure improvements are coming to Mound and Minnetrista, thanks to collaborative efforts with the Metropolitan Council, local government and CenterPoint Energy. The Council will begin construction in the next month to replace nearly three miles of regional sanitary sewer pipe.

The Council installed the original sewer pipe in 1973 – the pipe is now reaching the end of its service life. The $23 million project is part of a 10-year, $1 billion region-wide Metropolitan Council initiative that began in 2013 to accelerate the work of updating and improving aging wastewater collection and treatment facilities.

The Mound/Minnetrista project is one of many regional sewer improvement projects in Lake Minnetonka-area communities, with investment totaling $150 million over the last 10 years.

"Our region has one of the most efficient wastewater systems in the country," said Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. "We're lucky our regional leaders of the past had the foresight to plan and build a regional system. It's our responsibility to preserve this investment to ensure this infrastructure protects public health, as well as area lakes and rivers."

Work will require long-term closures and a detour for Westedge Blvd./Cty. Rd. 44

The Council is encouraging area residents and businesses to prepare for construction impacting Westedge Boulevard/County Road 44 in coming weeks. The Council, in coordination with the cities of Mound and Minnetrista, Hennepin County, and CenterPoint Energy are making utility and street improvements in the area.

"The coordination across many units of government and utilities is how good government should work," Tchourumoff said. "By aligning and coordinating this work, we prevent multiple, duplicative disruptions to people's lives. We also save taxpayer money by making sure that any construction work only happens once – tearing up three miles of sewer pipe is a big undertaking, so it just makes sense to do all the work at once."

Local improvements

Sewer pipe reconstruction:The Council will replace nearly three miles of regional sanitary sewer pipe from its pumping station and maintenance facility at Westedge Blvd. and Setter Circle, south along Westedge Blvd./County Road 44, to Lake Minnetonka Regional Park. Work also includes rehabilitation of maintenance hole structures and several sections of sewer pipe along Highway 7.

City water main reconstruction: In cooperation with the Council, the City of Mound will reconstruct water main pipe and services along Westedge Blvd. from Setter Circle to Sinclair Road.

County drainage improvements: In cooperation with the Council, Hennepin County will replace some existing storm sewer piping and make drainage improvements along County Road 44 from Sinclair Road to Maple Forest.

Gas main reconstruction: CenterPoint Energy will upgrade its existing main from Highway 7 in Minnetrista to Bartlett Road in Mound.

The extensive utility work will require a closure and regional detour for Westedge Blvd./County Road 44 in 2018 and 2019. Drivers will be detoured around the work zone by using County Roads 15, 110, 92 and Highway 7. The project team will work with residents along the construction corridor to maintain local access routes to their homes.

The overall construction and restoration along Westedge Blvd./County Road 44 is anticipated to be completed in 2020.

Efficiencies in system lead to low wastewater rates

The Metropolitan Council charges some of the lowest wastewater rates in the country, coming in on average 40 percent lower than its peer agencies. Even in the state of Minnesota, residents in Greater Minnesota pay close to twice the rate of regional residents. To pay for capital investments, the Council secures Public Facilities Authority loans and issues bonds that are repaid with wastewater user fees across the region.

The Metropolitan Council’s Community Development Committee will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 20, 2018, at 4 PM to receive public comment on the proposed 2019 Public Housing Agency (PHA) Annual Plan.